Scotch has historically been viewed as one of the most luxurious sipping spirits, and for good reason. The first documented record of distilling in Scotland dates back to 1494. Thanks to centuries of experience, the Scots have some pretty spectacular bottles for holiday gifting, ranging from rich and nutty sherry bombs to smoky single malts.
To help you identify the best Scotch for every whisky lover on your list, we compiled a list of the best bottles to gift this year. From entry-level offerings to splurge-worthy buys, here are the seven best Scotches to give this holiday.
Best Budget Scotch: Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky
Best Splurge Scotch: Glengoyne White Oak 24 Year Old
Best Scotch for Beginners: Compass Box Scotch Whisky Nectarosity Blended Scotch Whisky
Best Scotch for Whisky Geeks: The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year Old
Best Scotch for Cocktail Lovers: Mossburn Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Best Scotch to Impress: The Glendronach ‘Ode to the Dark’
Best Limited-Edition Scotch: Oban 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Best Budget Scotch
Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky
When looking for Scotch at an accessible price point, blended expressions are often the way to go, and Maclean’s Nose is a great place to start. The Scotch is a non-chill-filtered blend of 70 percent malt and 30 percent grain distillates, which results in an approachable yet nuanced spirit. Aromas of bright citrus and honey dominate before a rich palate takes over with notes of chocolate, hazelnut, and nougat. Bottled at 46 percent ABV, it’s a Scotch that will hold up equally well in a Bobby Burns or over ice.
Average Price: $37
Rating: 91
Best Splurge Scotch
Glengoyne White Oak 24 Year Old
This 24-year-old Highland single malt is a masterclass in refined oak aging and is sure to convince any bourbon lover that Scotch is a spirit worth savoring. The whisky matures in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and virgin American oak — a rarity in Scotch production — leading to a sweet, dessert-like dram. On the nose, there are strong vanilla aromas, along with hints of coconut flakes, stone and citrus fruits, and icing sugar that transfer onto the palate. Despite the age statement, the Scotch is still surprisingly vibrant, remaining fruity, fresh, and sweet through the finish.
Average Price: $400
Rating: 96
Best Scotch for Beginners
Compass Box Scotch Whisky Nectarosity Blended Scotch Whisky
If you’re looking for the perfect bottle for someone new to Scotch, reaching for a peat bomb is probably the wrong move. And while Compass Box is known for some seriously peat-forward expressions, Nectarosity was inspired by baked goods and French patisseries, making it an ideal pick for the whisky newbie. The Scotch blends Highland malts and Lowland grain whiskies from 11 distilleries, each of which was aged in either virgin American oak, first-fill bourbon, or Palo Cortado sherry casks. The end result is a whisky with aromas of stone fruit, citrus, vanilla, and honey and a decadent palate delivering notes of banana, caramel, and apricot preserves.
Average Price: $65
Rating: 93
Best Scotch for Whisky Geeks
The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year Old
Single barrel selections are often like a siren call for whisky nerds, though the practice is fairly uncommon in Scotch production. That’s what makes this bottling from The Balvenie so unique. First released in 2013, The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year Old has been offered on and off ever since, with each cask filling just 300 bottles maximum. Considering the single barrel nature of the release, tasting notes vary slightly batch to batch, though they generally deliver bright and energetic characteristics, with pops of honey and fruit. Bottled at 47.8 percent ABV, this is a top-notch bottle deserving of a spot on any whisky geek’s liquor shelf.
Average Price: $80
Rating: 93
Best Scotch for Cocktail Lovers
Mossburn Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
While single malt whiskies are good for sipping, most Scotch cocktails call for blended expressions for their more balanced profiles. For a high-quality option that won’t break the bank, look no further than Mossburn Speyside Blended Malt. To age the whisky, which is entirely composed of Speyside malts, Mossburn allowed the spirit to rest in oloroso sherry butts topped with charred new American oak heads. The final Scotch is nuanced and layered, with prominent oak notes and undercurrents of vibrant fruit. It’s a whisky that practically begs to be shaken into a Penicillin or stirred into a Scotch Old Fashioned.
Average Price: $36
Rating: 92
Best Scotch to Impress
The Glendronach ‘Ode to the Dark’
Founded in the Scottish Highlands in 1826, The Glendronach is known for its refined sherry cask aging, and its command over the style is on full display in this bottling. Ode to the Dark was released as a part of the distillery’s The Master’s Anthology collection, a three-bottle series solely dedicated to exploring sherry cask maturation. Bottled at 50.8 percent ABV, this expression is the highest ABV of the bunch, and delivers impressive nutty spice characteristics. The non-age-statement Scotch is fragrant and decadent, with dark berry, black coffee, bitter dark chocolate, and savory herb notes. This is one you’ll want to sip slowly over a large ice cube.
Average Price: $150
Rating: 94
Best Limited-Edition Scotch
Oban 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This U.S-only limited edition release hails from one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland that’s also one of the country’s oldest. Established in 1794, Oban is so old that the town it’s located in (also called Oban) was constructed around the production facility. The centuries of work perfecting the craft of small-batch single malts can be felt with every sip of this 15-year-old cask-strength expression. One year older than Oban’s flagship bottling, this whisky is aged in a similar way, spending the majority of its life in ex-bourbon casks. However, in a point of divergence, Oban 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt spends its final four years of maturation in a combination of oloroso and Palo Cortado sherry casks. Bottled at cask strength, the Scotch is robust and punchy, wafting savory sherry aromas alongside dried orchard and stone fruits. On the palate, the high proof is evident, with a pleasant burn adding complementary levels of smoke and salinity.
Average Price: $150
Rating: 94
